Bill for background checks at gun shows clears N.M. House, 43-26

SANTA FE -- A gun bill that was rewritten and then revived after an early setback cleared the New Mexico House of Representatives on Wednesday.

It would require people who buy firearms from private dealers at gun shows to undergo background checks. Exceptions would be made for buyers who hold a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

Though debate lasted for three hours, the bill carried with ease, 43-26.

Now House Bill 77 moves to the state Senate. Gov. Susana Martinez has said she would sign the measure if it remained intact.

The sponsor, Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, said he removed the most objectionable section of his original draft. It would have required background checks in gun sales between family members or friends.

Garcia recast the bill to take away the attempt to regulate personal gun transactions through background checks.

But at gun shows, private sellers would have to request background checks of prospective buyers. The checks would be done by a licensed federal gun dealer.

Garcia said the system would help detect convicted felons, fugitives, users of illegal drugs, perpetrators of domestic violence and others who are prohibited from possessing guns.

Thirty-five of 38 Democrats in the House voted for the bill. Eight Republicans joined them in supporting the measure.

Leading the Republicans who backed the bill was Rep. Nate Gentry of Albuquerque. An early opponent of the measure, Gentry helped Garcia rewrite the bill to the point that he said it was palatable, though not perfect.

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Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Las Cruces, praised their efforts and said the bill would end a contradictory system.

People who buy guns at stores are subject to background checks. Those who bought the same weapon at a gun show could evade a background check if the seller was not a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Heavy opposition to the bill came from Republican Reps. Dennis Roch of Texico and Bill Rehm of Albuquerque.

Rehm even wanted to amend the bill to release information about those in New Mexico's medical marijuana program. He said marijuana is still an illegal drug in the eyes of the federal government, and those using the drug should be flagged on background checks for firearms.

His amendment failed.

Roch, a member of the National Rifle Association, said firearms used in mass murders such as those in a theater in Aurora, Colo., and a school in Newtown, Conn., were not purchased at gun shows.

He sarcastically called for background checks on purchasers of knives or tools that could be used as clubs.

Rep. Brian Egolf had a counter for Roch's arguments.

"Let's focus on the people who will not be murdered because of this," said Egolf, D-Santa Fe.

McCamley, owner of five guns, said said the bill was a step toward fairness and consistency.

"This bill is moderate. It is bipartisan. It is intelligent," he said.

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